Former Alabama safety Brian Branch revealed a bombshell secret to his teammate, Amon-Ra St. Brown, at the “St. Brown Podcast”: Nick Saban got physical with some of his Crimson Tide linemen during practice.

“Well, you know, I started doing it one day during practice,” Branch said, recalling his days in Tuscaloosa. “And it was with a lineman, and he had hit me a little bit, he had sneaked me up a little bit. His other offensive lineman came in and snuck me.

“His other partner came and it was like a brawl between defense and offense, with the scout team going on offense, and coach Saban stepped in and had a little blow with the offensive linemen. It probably just felt like a blow (to them).

Those who think this will cause even the slightest stir in Tuscaloosa need to get a grip. Crimson Tide fans long for this level of passion from Kalen DeBoer; whose calm presence may negate the “Bama standard.”

Paul Finebaum rips first-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s attitude with his Crimson Tide players

What Saban did worked. What DeBoer is doing won’t happen in the first eight games of his Crimson Tide coaching stint.

Paul Finebaum says many within the Alabama football program are frustrated that DeBoer no longer looks like his predecessor on the sidelines.

“He hasn’t commanded the stage very well… His behavior on the sidelines irritates people, his lack of discipline and some of the things he says and does,” Finebaum said.

Alabama should not tolerate violence in practice. For many reasons.

But DeBoer needs to light some fire under his players, because as things stand, they may not be his players for much longer.